Hinge assembly

ABSTRACT

The disclosure relates to a hinge assembly ( 70 ) and a tablet-notebook hybrid computer ( 10 ). The hinge assembly ( 70 ) comprises a hinge ( 40 ) for pivotably connecting a base member ( 20 ) of the tablet-notebook hybrid computer ( 10 ) to a tablet member ( 30 ) of the tablet-notebook hybrid computer ( 10 ); an actuator ( 51 ) fixed to the hinge ( 40 ); and a support member ( 50 ) pivotably connected to the tablet member ( 30 ) via a pivot shaft ( 52 ). When the tablet member ( 30 ) rotates towards an open position with respect to the base member ( 20 ), the support member ( 50 ) is actuated by the actuator ( 51 ), rotates away from the tablet member ( 30 ), and provides addition support for the tablet member ( 30 ).

BACKGROUND

There are some laptop or notebook computers that emulate the function ofa tablet computer, which are also referred to as tablet-notebook hybridcomputers. These tablet-notebook hybrid computers are equipped with atouch screen display member that rotates with respect to a keyboardmember with the touch screen display member facing outward for use as atablet. In these tablet-notebook hybrid computers configurations, theessential hardware of the computer, including the processor, memory, andbattery, is housed in the keyboard member (also referred to as basemember) of the notebook computer. The touch screen display member (alsoreferred to as tablet member) is hinged to the keyboard member, so thatthe touch screen display member can is rotates with respect to thekeyboard member between an open position and a closed position.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Examples of the present disclosure are described in the followingdescription with reference to the figures. In the figures, identical andsimilar structures, elements or parts thereof are labeled with the sameor similar references. Referring to the attached figures:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tablet-notebook hybrid computeraccording to an example of the present disclosure, wherein a tabletmember is located in an open position with respect to a base member,

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the tablet-notebook hybrid computeraccording to an example of the present disclosure, wherein the tabletmember is located in a closed position with respect to the base member.

FIG, 3 is a perspective view of the hinge assembly for thetablet-notebook hybrid computer according to an example of the presentdisclosure, wherein the tablet member is located in the closed positionwith respect to the base member.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the hinge assembly for thetablet-notebook hybrid computer according to an example of the presentdisclosure, wherein the tablet member is located in the open positionwith respect to the base member.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the hinge assembly for thetablet-notebook hybrid computer according to an example of the presentdisclosure, wherein the tablet member is located in the closed positionwith respect to the base member.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the hinge assembly for thetablet-notebook hybrid computer according to an example of the presentdisclosure, wherein the tablet member is located in the open positionwith respect to the base member.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

As used herein, directional terms, such as “up”, “down”, “front”,“rear”, “leading”, “trailing”, “transverse” etc., are used withreference to the orientation of the figures being described. Becausecomponents of various examples disclosed herein can be positioned in anumber of different orientations, the directional terminology is usedfor illustrative purposes only, and is not intended to be limiting. Itis also to be understood that the examples illustrated in the drawings,and the specific language used herein to describe the same are notintended to limit the scope of the disclosure. Alterations and furthermodifications of the features illustrated herein, and additionalapplications of the principles illustrated herein are to be consideredto fall within the scope of the disclosure.

In the existing tablet-notebook hybrid computers comprising a basemember and a tablet member, since the tablet member is heavier thantraditional LCD, the tablet member may not be very steadily held at theopen position when the tablet member is at an open position with respectto the base member. If the open angle is large, for example, greaterthan 90 degrees, the tablet-notebook hybrid computers will be easy totip over. In addition, for a touch application, if its tablet member(i.e., LCD member) is slightly touched or contacted by a finger of auser, the tablet-notebook hybrid computers will he unstable.

According to an example of the disclosure, a hinge assembly for atablet-notebook hybrid computer is provided, comprising: a hinge forpivotably connecting a base member of the tablet-notebook hybridcomputer to a tablet member of the tablet-notebook hybrid computer; anactuator fixed to the hinge; and a support member pivotably connected tothe tablet member via a pivot shaft, When the tablet member rotatestowards an open position with respect to the base member, the supportmember is actuated by the actuator, rotates away from the tablet member,and provides addition support for the tablet member.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tablet-notebook hybrid computer 10according to an example of the present disclosure, wherein a tabletmember 30 is located in an open position with respect to a base member20. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the tablet-notebook hybrid computer10 according to an example of the present disclosure, wherein the tabletmember 30 is located in a closed position with respect to the basemember 20.

In an example, a tablet-notebook hybrid computer 10 includes a basemember 20 and a tablet member 30. In an example, the tablet member 30 ofthe tablet-notebook hybrid computer 10 is hinged to the base member 20of tablet-notebook hybrid computer 10 by one or more center hinges 40,so that the tablet member 30 can be pivoted to a closed. position withrespect to the base member 20 to close tablet-notebook hybrid computer10, and can be pivoted towards an open position away from the basemember 20 to open the tablet-notebook hybrid computer 10.

In an example, the tablet member 30 of the tablet-notebook hybridcomputer 10 is hinged to the base member 20 of tablet-notebook hybridcomputer 10 by a hinge assembly 70 (as shown in FIGS. 3-6).

FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 are perspective views of the hinge assembly 70 for thetablet-notebook hybrid computer according to an example of the presentdisclosure. FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are cross-sectional views of the hingeassembly 70 for the tablet-notebook hybrid computer 10 according to anexample of the present disclosure. FIG. 3 and FIG. 5 show the tabletmember is located in the closed position with respect to the basemember. FIG. 4 and FIG. 6 show the tablet member is located in the openposition with respect to the base member.

In an example, as shown in FIGS. 3-6, the hinge assembly 70 comprises ahinge 40 for pivotably connecting the base member 20 of thetablet-notebook hybrid computer 10 to the tablet member 30 of thetablet-notebook hybrid computer 10. The hinge assembly 70 furthercomprises an actuator 51 fixed to the hinge 40 and a support member 50pivotably connected to the tablet member 30 via a pivot shaft 52. In anis example, as shown in FIGS. 3-6, the actuator 51 is a cam. The camincludes a cam lobe 54 which contacts and actuates the support member 50when the tablet member 30 rotates with respect to the base member 20.

When the tablet member 30 rotates towards an open position with respectto the base member 20, the support member 50 is actuated by the cam lobe54 of the cam, rotates away from the tablet member 30, and providesaddition support for the tablet member 30. Thus, the tablet-notebookhybrid computers 10 will not tip over. In addition, for a touchapplication, if the tablet member 30 is slightly touched or contacted bya finger of a user, the tablet-notebook hybrid computers 10 will bestable.

As shown more clearly in FIG. 6, the support member 50 has a first endpivotably connected to the tablet member 30 and a free second end, thesecond end of the support member 50 includes a foot 53 so as to supportthe tablet member 30. When the tablet member 30 rotates towards the openposition with respect to the base member 20, the cam contacts with amidportion between the first end and the second end, so that the secondend (and the foot 53) rotates away from the tablet member 30 and restson the table so as to support the tablet member 30.

It should be noted that, although FIGS. 3-6 show that the cam and thesupport member 30 are located on the right end of the hinge 40, the camand the support member 30 can be located at any position on the hinge40, for example, left end of the hinge 40 and any middle positionbetween the right end and the left end of the hinge 40. In addition,although FIGS. 3-6 show that the hinge assembly 70 includes one cam andone support member 30, the hinge assembly 70 can include two or morecams and two or more support members 30.

The hinge assembly 70 further comprises a spring 60 fit over the pivotshaft 31, for biasing the support member 50 back when the tablet member30 rotates to the closed position with respect to the base member 20.

Having described an example of the hinge assembly for the istablet-notebook hybrid computer of the present disclosure, and inparticular the hinge assembly by which the tablet member of thetablet-notebook hybrid computer can be stable and will not tip over, itshould be apparent to those skilled in the art that the disclosure maybe modified in both arrangement and detail.

Although specific examples have been illustrated and described herein,it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that avariety of alternate and/or equivalent implementations may besubstituted for the specific examples shown and described withoutdeparting from the scope of the present disclosure. This application isintended to cover any adaptations or variations of the specific examplesdiscussed herein. Therefore, it is intended that this disclosure belimited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.

1. A hinge assembly (70) for a tablet-notebook hybrid computer (10), comprising: a hinge (40) for pivotably connecting a base member (20) of the tablet-notebook hybrid computer (10) to a tablet member (30) of the tablet-notebook hybrid computer (10); an actuator (51) fixed to the hinge (40); and a support member (50) pivotal connected to the tablet member (30) via a pivot shaft (52), when the tablet member (30) rotates towards an open position with respect to the base member (20), the support member (50) is actuated by the actuator (51), rotates away from the tablet member (30), and provides addition support for the tablet member (30).
 2. The hinge assembly (70) of claim 1, wherein the actuator (51) is a cam.
 3. The hinge assembly (70) of claim 2, wherein the cam includes a cam lobe (54) which contacts and actuates the support member (50) when the tablet member (30) rotates with respect to the base member (20).
 4. The hinge assembly (70) of claim 3, wherein the support member (50) has a first end pivotably connected to the tablet member (30) and a free second end, when the tablet member (30) rotates towards the open position with respect to the base member (20), the cam contacts with a midportion between the first end and the second end, so that the second end rotates away from the tablet member (30) and rests on the table so as to support the tablet member (30).
 5. The hinge assembly (70) of claim 4, further comprising a spring (60) fit over the pivot shaft (31), for biasing the support member (50) back when the tablet member (30) rotates to the closed position with respect to the base member (20).
 6. The hinge assembly (70) of claim 4, wherein the second end of the support member (50) includes a foot (53) so as to support the tablet member (30).
 7. A tablet-notebook hybrid computer (10), comprising: a base member (20); a tablet member (30); and a hinge assembly (70), the hinge assembly (70) comprising: a hinge (40) for pivotably connecting the base member (20) of the tablet-notebook hybrid computer (10) to the tablet member (30) of the tablet-notebook hybrid computer (10); an actuator (51) fixed to the hinge (40); and a support member (50) pivotably connected to the tablet member (30) via, a pivot shaft (52), when the tablet member (30) rotates towards an open position with respect to the base member (20), the support member (50) is actuated by the actuator (51), rotates away from the tablet member (30), and provides addition support for the tablet member (30).
 8. The tablet-notebook hybrid computer (10) of claim 7, wherein the actuator (51) is a cam.
 9. The tablet-notebook hybrid computer (10) of claim 8 wherein the cam includes a cam lobe (54) which contacts and actuates the support member (50) when the tablet member (30) rotates with respect to the base member (20).
 10. The tablet-notebook hybrid computer (10) of claim 9, wherein the support member (50) has a first end pivotably connected to the tablet member (30) and a free second end, when the tablet member (30) rotates towards the open position with respect to the base member (20), the cam contacts with a midportion between the first end and the second end, so that the second end rotates away from the tablet member (30) and rests on the table so as to support the tablet member (30).
 11. The tablet-notebook hybrid computer (10) of claim 10, wherein the hinge assembly (70) further comprises a spring (60) fit over the pivot shaft (31), for biasing the support member (50) back when the tablet member (30) rotates to the closed position with respect to the base member (20).
 12. The tablet-notebook hybrid computer (10) of claim 10, wherein the second end of the support member (50) includes a foot (53) so as to support the tablet member (30). 